Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-25
THE eeRRy BOX.

THE GERRY BOX.
IN Authentic TIatory ef the Steady Do
elite Of Its Propereioos-
i will be interesting. perhaps. 10
our youthful readers to know that
within the memory of many persons
now living the berry box was. like Lit
tie Buttercup. of plump and pleasing
proportions, and as utterly unlike its
degenerate pOsterity rs is the full
moon compared with the thin-slipped
crescent, the first glimpse Of which
the fair ones of superstitious proclivi-
ties take care shall not he over the
sinister shoulder.
The berry box. in its best estate.
held good round quart-cight to the
peck-and who so purchased it. full to
the brim. had no reason to complain
of its generous dimensions. But
there is certain element Of vulgarity
inevitably associated with an Over-plus
of jewelry. and. therefore, why should
not the same rule hold good with re-
gard to berries? Reasoning by the
law of analogy. law immutab'e and
never misleading. we caa discover no
difference between jewels and berries.
SO far as this rule is concerned. and
hence we must look upon the old ber-
nv box as the essence of vulgarity-or
rather we should SO regard it were the
opportunity given as of looking upon
e ,,J ro;o;..a that - ho, NosSo,1
away, never again to return.
The diminished berry box is sign
of prosperity. and therefore should be
priced rs an evidence Of widely disscm-
mated wealth; for willie the people
had but little money. they could afford
few berries; consequently the venders
thereof found no cause for exposing
their fruit in CONSTRUCTED vessels. But
when money became abundant berries
advanced in price. insomuch that it
was necessary. in order that all comers
should be supplied. that fewer fruit
should be dispensed to each purchaser.
1t will be seen. then. that it was from
no selfish, money-grasping motive that
the berry box was curtailcd of its fair
proportions. but that, on the contrary,
the dealers. knowing that all persons
had the whcrewithal to purchase. it was
necessary to take Measures smaller
Ones-to see that none should so ber-
ryless.
Then, again, it is a well-approvcd
maxim that the most precious articles
are contained in the smallest parcels,
and it would be very mean man who
should refuse to make thing precious
when he could do so simply by mini
MIXING the vehicle which carries it.
1t is fattering to human nature to
know that none such were found. but
that every dealer We'd with all others
to make the berry the most precious of
fruits, until in time the bottom OF the
box arose, il not in the estimation of
the buying public, at least in SO init
mate propinquity to the cover that the
separating space was exceedingly mar
row.
In process of time the ingenuity of
the box makers was taxed to the utter
most, and though every installment of
boxes was smaller than its predecessor.
the dealers were not to be satisfied.
They knew that the small box was
what the people wanted. 1t was con-
veniept to carry. and great saving Of
sugar was gained by the reduced guam
tiiy of fruit; so these disinterestcd men
spent their spare hours with knife,
spokeshave and plane razeeing the
walls of their boxes until they con-
tanned out single row of berries.
This was great gain to the public. in
asmuch as the buyer of box of ber-
ries was assured that his berries were
equally good all the way from the top
to bottom, and the practice which
once obtained of covering rotten fruit
with ripe an luscious specimens was no
longer possible.
You may suppose that the boxes have
become SO dainty in dimensions that no
further improvement is possible; but it
is understood that in time for next
seasons business boxes will appear
gagged for single berry. and it is
even promised that when the berries
are larger than the average they will
be divided into sections. so that in
order to secure an entire berry one
will be obliged to purchase three or
four boxes of fruit.-BoStOn Tran
ScriDt